DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian Duterte said on Friday, September 30 that the city government eyes a master drainage plan, among other projects, to address the flood problem of the city.
During the Special Hour program, Duterte said the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) is looking into various projects for flood mitigation, including those that could be undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“It’s not the city alone managing the drainage system, si national government naa pud diha, si DPWH (the DPWH is also responsible). Pero daghan man lain projects na pwede nato i-implement pareha sa Japan International Cooperatio Agency (JICA) na gusto nato mag himo og flood mitigation project along Davao River (But ther are also other projects we wish could be implemented, like the JICA project along Davao River),” Duterte said.
Several areas in Davao City experienced to flooding during downpour of heavy or torrential rains, especially in flood-prone areas including several in Buhangin, Indangan, and downtown areas.
During a recent flooding incident on September 28, several streets were no longer passable to light vehicles. The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDDRMO) also reported 11 individuals or two families trapped in Montclair Highlands in Buhangin.
However, the mayor said flooding in the city could not be easily avoided since there are many factors contributing to it such as urbanization and deforestation.
“There are also some areas na below sea level... so these are things that we have to face (but) kinahanglan pud nato na tutukan pud (we are prioritizing resolutions for this),” he said. ICM